Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21
Mādhayameśvara-māhātmya — Vyāsa at Mandākinī and the Pāśupata Vision
अत्र पूर्वं हृषीकेशो विश्वात्मा देवकीसुतः / उवास वत्सरं कृष्णः सदा पाशुपतैर्वृतः
atra pūrvaṃ hṛṣīkeśo viśvātmā devakīsutaḥ / uvāsa vatsaraṃ kṛṣṇaḥ sadā pāśupatairvṛtaḥ
Thuở xưa, chính tại đây, Hṛṣīkeśa—Kṛṣṇa, Bản Ngã của vũ trụ, con của Devakī—đã an trú trọn một năm, luôn được các Pāśupata (tín đồ của Paśupati-Śiva) vây quanh.
Narratorial voice (Purana narrator describing a sacred site/episode to the listening sages)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
By calling Kṛṣṇa “viśvātmā” (the Cosmic Self), the verse presents him as the indwelling Self of all beings, not merely a historical person—supporting a theistic non-dual vision where the Supreme pervades the universe.
The verse signals a Pāśupata milieu—association with Śiva’s devotees—implying disciplined sādhana grounded in devotion, restraint of the senses (Hṛṣīkeśa motif), and living in sanctified company (satsaṅga) at a tīrtha.
It portrays Kṛṣṇa (Vishnu) dwelling “ever surrounded by Pāśupatas,” suggesting harmony rather than rivalry: Vishnu is honored within a Śaiva devotional setting, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s synthesis of Śiva-Vishnu unity.